Wire rope machine



May 5, 1936. A. J. MORGAN 2,039,438

WIRE ROPE MACHINE Filed May 16, 1955 28 E Z6 I JZF'QQ 7 2 7. 24 6 25 554,2 34-1NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE ROPEMACHINE Application May 16, 1935, Serial No. 21,730

12 Claims.

This invention relates to rope making machines and more particularly tothe squeezer unit of such machines.

In the description and claims herein, the word wire is to be understoodas including both a wire and a wire strand and the word rope asincluding both rope formed of strands and. strands formed of wires, theinvention being equally applicable to both.

In the manufacture of wire rope and strands it is customary to pass therope through a squeezer just after it comes from the closing point. Thissqueezer performs a function which its name implies, that is, itsqueezes or compacts the lays. Such squeezers are usually merely atwo-part block with the parts adjustable to maintain a bore of thedesired diameter. The rope, on its way to the draw-off rolls, is drawnthrough this bore and compacted to proper diameter.

The passage of a wire rope through such a bore generates heat, thehigher the speed the greater the heat. It is desirable for variousreasons to use a hardened and polished squeezer. But it has been foundimpractical, if not impossible, to use hardened and polished squeezerswith high speed machines, such as the horizontal long type, because thepolished condition cannot be maintained beyond very short intervalsunder the high heat generated. Whether this is because of the break-downof the lubricant under the heat generated or the expansion of thesqueezer or both, is difiicult to ascertain and is largely immaterial.The fact remains that after a considerable production of rope, the ropebecomes marked in the squeezer in such a manner that it may be unfit forsale.

A second undesirable result of this heat is the possible deleteriousefiect on the rope itself. It is known that steel ages. Just what takesplace during this aging process is probably not fully understood andneed not be discussed. But some sort of a change occurs and this changeis accelerated by increased temperatures. In rope 45 machines asheretofore known, the rope, al-

though it requires but a fraction of a second to pass through thesqueezer, acquires considerable heat-so much that it cannot ordinarilybe touched with the bare hand. It is apparent that if the machine isstopped for any purpose, as not infrequently becomes necessary, theshort section of the rope enclosed in the squeezer acquires a muchgreater amount of heat because of the increased time element. Whether ornot such heating of the rope is seriously injurious, at any rate it isdesirable that it should be avoided.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages ofan overheated squeezer.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a ropemachine such that the squeezer is maintained at cool temperatures.

With these general objects and others in view, the invention consists inthe features, combinations, details of construction and arrangements ofparts which will first be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of one end of a rope making machineconstructed in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views (enlarged) taken, respectively, onthe lines 22, 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 2,and 7 Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken, respectively, on thelines 55, 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, while the invention is applicable to varioustypes of rope making machines, it is particularly adaptable to machinesof the horizontal long type. Such machines, which are well known in theart, comprise a horizontal frame or fiyer having a series of disksrunning on rollers. In this frame are mounted the wire spools. A machineof this type is shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 1,961,379. Thispatent shows a machine for making preformed rope but the invention isequally applicable to machines for making standard rope.

Figure 1 herein illustrates a flyer head ll running on rollers 12. Fromthe flyer head the wires I3 pass to the closing point to be laid up in arope 14. The flyer is driven through any suitable connection from shaftl5 which is driven, in turn, through a reversible bevel gear train Hifrom a main shaft (not shown). The latter also drives the draw-ofi rolls(not shown).

Between the closing point and the draw-off rolls the rope passes througha squeezer. This squeezer, in the embodiment here illustrated as anexample, comprises a block 11, square in cross section and having ahardened and polished bore 18 of a diameter generally corresponding tothe desired diameter of the finished rope. For manufacturing convenienceand to enable the squeezer to be adjusted so as to adapt it to ropediameter the squeezer is split longitudinally, forming at least twolongitudinal parts or sections, as appears more clearly in Figures 2 and3. The squeezer block is elongated in the direction of the axis, that isto say, its length is greater than the rope diameter and preferably isfive or six times longer than such diameter for ropes of the commonsizes, as shown, for example, in Figure 6. At the entrance end thesqueezer has a bell mouth (Fi e 6) for an easy reception of the rope.The exit end abuts against plates l9 which are secured to a holderhereinafter described.

The invention includes means for cooling the squeezer. This may beaccomplished by directing a flow of cooling fluid on the squeezer or onor through the squeezer holder. While various cooling fluids may beutilized, water has been found satisfactory.

In accordance with the invention in its entirety, there is provided aholder for the squeezer and means for applying a cooling fluid thereto.This may be conveniently accomplished by a holder that encloses thesqueezer, the holder having a plurality of passages therethrough whichsurround the squeezer. In carrying out the invention to what is nowconsidered. the best advantage, the squeezer holder is formed in twoparts for convenience of manufacture and assembly and each section hasits own independent cooling system, the two systems being arranged andrelated to provide the enclosure of passages above referred to. To thisend, as here shown as an example carried by a pedestal or frame 2| is arecessed supporting block 22. Set in the recess of this block is a lowerholder block 23. Above the latter is an upper holder block 24. These twoholder blocks have alined recesses which, when the parts are assembled,form a passage, square in cross section, for receiving the squeezer IT.

The upper holder block 24 has, at each side, a flange 25 which seats onthe edge of the supporting block 22. The upper and lower holder blocksare positioned with respect to each other by dowels 26 and the upperholder block is positioned in the supporting block by dowels 21. Theupper and lower holder blocks are secured together by bolts 28.

In the embodiment here shown as an example, the recess in the supportingblock is formed with shoulders 29 and the upper and lower holder blockshave corresponding shoulders (Figure 4). The inter-fit of theseshoulders constitutes a stop to take the thrust arising from the passageof the rope.

Each half of the holder has half of the passages that enclose theholder. To avoid a multiplicity of connections, the several passages ofeach holder block are so interconnected as to provide a continuous andtortuous path for the cooling fluid, e. g. water. To this end, as hereshown as an example, at the right side of the upper holder block 24 (asviewed in Figures 2 and 3) and near the bottom thereof, is a passage 3|and above the latter is a passage 32. These two passages are separatedby a partition 33. For convenience of description the side of thesqueezer unit at which the rope emerges will be termed the front. Thepartition 33 terminates short of the rear of the holder (Figure 5)whereby the passages 3|, 32 are connected by a vertical cross passage34.

At the left side of this upper holder block are two vertically alinedpassages 35, 36 which are duplicates of passages 3|, 32 respectively.These passages are separated by a partition 31 which terminates short ofthe rear of the holder whereby the passages 35, 36 are connected by avertical cross passage 38.

Between passages 32, 36 are two passages 39, 49 located just above thesqueezer. These passages are separated by a partition 4| whichterminates short of the rear of the block whereby passages 39, 40 areconnected by a horizontal cross passage 42. Passages 32 and 39 areseparated by a partition 43 which terminates short of the front of theblock, whereby the passages are connected by a cross passage 44.Passages 36 and 40 are separated by a similar partition 45 and aresimilarly connected by a cross passage 46.

In the construction here shown as an example, the several cross passagesare open to the face of the block. To close the same, the block has arear cover plate 48 and a front cover plate 49. These covers or closureplates are secured in place in any suitable manner, as by screws 50. Asshown, sealing gaskets 5| of rubber or other suitable material areinserted between the faces of the block and the cover plates. The platesI 9 above referred to are secured, in any suitable manner, to coverplate 49.

Considering passage 3! as the entrance, the course of the cooling wateris backward through passage 3|, up vertical passage 34, forward throughpassage 32, across passage 44, backward through passage 39, acrosspassage 42, forward through passage 49, across passage 46, backwardthrough passage 36, down passage 38 and forward through passage 35.

There is provided means for connecting the tortuous system of holderblock 24 with a source and an outlet. To this end, as here shown as anexample, the front cover plate 49 has two holes corresponding topassages 3|, 35. In these holes pipes 53, 54 are secured in any suitablemanner, as by a tight fit reinforced by soldering 55. The pipes are sopositioned that their inner ends extend a short distance beyond thecover plate, as shown in Figure 5. When the cover plate is assembled,these projecting ends of the pipes fit into passages 3|, 35. Pipe 53,which is the inlet pipe, is connected in any suitable manner with asource of water or other cooling fluid and outlet pipe 54 is connectedin any suitable manner with a drain or other disposal system.

As here illustrated as an example, the lower holder block 23 is providedwith passages and connections which, considered vertically, constitute areverse-hand. duplication of the system above described. The inlet pipe56 corresponds to upper inlet pipe 53 and outlet pipe 51 corresponds toupper outlet 54. Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6 show the analogous passages of thelower block and no further description is considered necessary.

With the construction described the squeezer is surrounded by a seriesof twelve paralleling passages for the flow of water, whereby thesqueezer holder, and hence the squeezer itself, may be maintained in acool condition. As a result, a hardened and polished squeezer may beutilized even in highspeed machines and injury to the rope because ofheat is avoided. Moreover, the construction is such that it may beconveniently assembled and disassembled.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a squeezer through which the rope passes, a holder for saidsqueezer, said holder having a network of tortuous and connectedpassages therein surrounding the squeezer, and means for connecting saidnetwork with a source of cooling fluid.

2. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a. squeezer through which the rope passes, a two-part holder forsaid squeezer, each section of said holder hav ing an independent systemfor the flow of cooling fluid, and means for connecting said systemswith a source of cooling fluid.

3. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a squeezer through which the rope passes, a holder for saidsqueezer formed in two sections, each section having a plurality ofpassages therein, and means for connecting said passages with a sourceof cooling fluid.

4. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a squeezer through which the rope passes, a holder for saidsqueezer formed in two sections, each section having a network oftortuous and connected passages therein, the passages of the twosections being so arranged and related as to surround the squeezer, andmeans for connecting said networks with a source of cooling fluid.

5. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a squeezer through which the rope passes, a holder block for thesqueezer, the holder block having a plurality of passages parallelingthe squeezer, adjacent passages being separated by a partitionterminating short of the length of the block, the block being cut awayadjacent the terminations of said partitions to form cross passages forconnecting said passages, cover plates secured to the block to closesaid cross passages, and pipes carried by one of said cover plates andconnecting, respectively, with the first and last of said parallelingpassages and serving as an inlet and outlet, respectively, for a coolingfluid.

6. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, an elongated squeezer through which the rope passes, a holderblock for the squeezer, the holder block having a plurality ofinter-connected passages paralleling the squeezer, and means forconnecting said passages with a source of cooling fluid.

7. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, an elongated squeezer through which the rope passes, a twopartholder block for the squeezer, each section of the holder block having aplurality of interconnecting passages paralleling the squeezer, andmeans for connecting the respective sets of passages with a source ofcooling fluid.

8. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, an elongated tubular squeezer through which the laid up ropepasses, and means whereby a flow of cooling fluid may be maintained insuch close proximity to said squeezer as to prevent the generation inthe squeezer of excessive temperatures.

9. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, an elongated tubular squeezer through which the laid up ropepasses, and means for preventing the generation in the squeezer ofexcessive temperatures.

10. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, an elongated tubular squeezer through which the laid up ropepasses, a holder block for said squeezer, said holder block having aninternal passage therein for the flow of a cooling fluid, and means forconnecting said passage to a source of cooling fluid.

11. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a tubular squeezer, split longitudinally, through which the laidup rope passes, and means whereby a flow of cooling fluid may bemaintained in such close proximity to said squeezer as to prevent thegeneration. in the squeezer of excessive temperatures.

12. In a rope making machine, in combination with means for laying up arope, a tubular squeezer, split longitudinally through which the laid uprope passes, a holder block for said squeezer also split longitudinally,said holder block having an internal passage therein for the flow of acooling fluid, and means for connecting said passage to a source ofcooling fluid.

ARCHIBALD J. MORGAN.

